In Los Alamos, the phrase “life in the Big House” never referred to life in jail. The Big House was actually the first “school” building constructed by Ashley Pond. The idea was to create a dormitory with space for classrooms and pretty much everything else the students would need beyond the ranch outbuildings, cabins, and barns which had already existed on the Brooks’ Ranch.

At the time, Los Alamos’ “Big House” was essentially like a traditional Spanish jacal. Enormous logs were used and set up right in a vertical pattern instead of a horizontal one. The vertical logs were easier to place when you were creating a two story structure. Can you imagine how much power it would take to hoist one of those enormous Ponderosa Pines up to a second level? Back in 1916 on the Pajarito Plateau, there were easier ways to build structures and the locals knew it.

The original version of the Big House had two levels and 30 rooms, including a wide sleeping porch that accommodated all of the students and the masters too! In spite of it’s modest cost at $20,000, the Big House had a surprising amount of modern luxuries. There was a telephone line and indoor plumbing. Classrooms occupied most of the first floor, but the ground floor also boasted a common room, a kitchen, and a dining area.

In a strange twist, the second floor was entirely taken up with “private” accommodations for the boys. Each boy had his own space furnished with a place to study, relax, and personalize as he wanted. In fact, personalizing the spaces was such a focus on the “dormitories”, that awards were given out each month for the most interesting furnishings.

So, you could study, read, hang out, nap, or decorate your room. But… you were not permitted to sleep in it. In fact, if you look at the archive photo of the two boys in scout uniforms “studying” in their room, it looks very staged. Especially when you notice the bed looks incredibly uncomfortable!

The school kept growing so the Big House had to get bigger. Only two years after original construction began, AJ Connell had the Big House remodeled. The sleeping porch got some screens and became a bit more weather tight, (can you imagine how frigid it would’ve been before that addition?). And some space was added on the third floor via the addition of dormers on the sloped roof. One of the unmarried masters moved up to the third floor apartment, but he was still required to sleep on the porch.

The common room downstairs was where the evening’s entertainment was to be had. This common photo we see of the boys listening to Connell reading was taken in front of the fireplace in the common room. There was a pool table, ping-pong, a library of books, games to play, and even a record player in case you wanted to check out the latest tunes.

By 1935, Connell’s Ranch School brochure bragged that, “the Big House is thoroughly modern with steam heat, electric lights, and an ample number of showers and baths. The large living room on the first floor affords a comfortable place to study, read, or play. A massive stone chimney, with a fireplace on either side, rises in the center of the room. The younger three-quarters of the school, and two masters, live in this house. The boys’ rooms, used only for dressing and arranged for two boys each…Sleeping porches are used the entire year. They are actual sleeping porches, not just additional rooms, and give ample protection from the occasional storm…In this building are also three classrooms, a well-appointed dispensary, and the Director’s and faculty offices”.

By 1942, the Big House had sprawled into a structure fully capable of housing most of the school’s activities, students, and masters. Of course, the oldest boys occupied Spruce Cottage, which we’ll explore in another post. Some of the masters married, had family, and moved into Master Cottages. But for the most part, the Big House was the heart of the school. If you’re wondering where on earth this enormous building is today, we’ll talk about the Manhattan Project years next time!

I suppose if you take a peek at the dorm rooms pictured above, you can just about make a case that we should go back to that sort of housing arrangement for our summer students! Or, you can give me a call and talk housing in Los Alamos! I’m a hometown broker who loves to take a peek into real estate in Los Alamos. So when you’re ready to buy or sell your home in Los Alamos, give me a call! I’d love to chat with you!